NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request (Kenya)
Application for Roadworthiness Inspection under Traffic Act Cap. 403
NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request
NATIONAL TRANSPORT AND SAFETY AUTHORITY VEHICLE INSPECTION REQUEST FORM Under Traffic Act Cap. 403 and National Transport and Safety Authority Act No. 33 of 2012
Part A: Applicant Details
Full Name of Applicant: [Applicant Full Name] ID / Passport Number: [Applicant Id Number] Telephone Number: [Applicant Phone] Physical Address: [Applicant Address] Company / Organisation (if applicable): [Company Name]
Part B: Vehicle Identification
Registration Number (Number Plate): [Registration Number] Chassis Number (VIN): [Chassis Number] Engine Number: [Engine Number] Vehicle Make and Model: [Vehicle Make Model] Year of Manufacture: [Year Of Manufacture] Type of Vehicle: [Vehicle Type] Current Mileage (km): [Current Mileage]
The applicant confirms that all vehicle details stated above correspond exactly to those recorded in the NTSA Motor Vehicle Register and on the vehicle logbook (Registration Certificate). Any discrepancies must be resolved through an NTSA logbook amendment procedure before this inspection request can be processed.
Part C: Inspection Details
Grounds for Inspection: [Grounds For Inspection] Additional Details (if applicable): [Grounds Other Details] Preferred Inspection Test Centre: [Preferred I T C] Preferred Inspection Date: [Preferred Date]
The applicant acknowledges that inspection scheduling is subject to NTSA availability and that the final appointment date and time will be confirmed via the NTSA eCitizen portal (ntsa.go.ke). On the day of inspection, the applicant or their authorised agent must present the original vehicle logbook, current insurance certificate, and NTSA appointment confirmation.
Part D: Insurance Information
Insurance Company: [Insurer Name] Policy Number: [Insurance Policy Number] Policy Expiry Date: [Insurance Expiry Date]
The vehicle referenced above is covered by a valid motor vehicle insurance policy as required under the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act Cap. 405. The applicant confirms that the policy is current as at the date of this request and that valid insurance will be maintained for the vehicle at all times as required by the Traffic Act Cap. 403.
Part E: Declaration by Applicant
I, [Applicant Full Name], holding ID / Passport Number [Applicant Id Number], hereby declare that: 1. All particulars provided in this Vehicle Inspection Request are true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. 2. I authorise the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and its designated inspection officers to conduct a full roadworthiness inspection of the vehicle referenced in Part B above, including examination of all mechanical systems, bodywork, lighting, emissions, and documentation. 3. I understand that if the vehicle fails the roadworthiness inspection, a Vehicle Prohibition Notice will be issued under Section 56 of the Traffic Act Cap. 403, and the vehicle may not be operated on public roads until defects are rectified and a satisfactory re-inspection is completed. 4. I acknowledge that any fraudulent misrepresentation in this application constitutes an offence under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No. 3 of 2003. Signed at [Signature Location] on [Declaration Date].
For NTSA Official Use Only
Inspection Booking Reference: ___________________________ Assigned ITC: ___________________________ Scheduled Inspection Date and Time: ___________________________ Inspection Fee Paid (KES): ___________________________ Receipt / M-Pesa Transaction Number: ___________________________ Receiving Officer Name and Signature: ___________________________ Date Received: ___________________________
Applicant / Registered Owner
________________
Signature
What Is a NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request (Kenya)?
A NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request in Kenya states what the requester is asking for and the basis on which it should be granted.
The NTSA was established by the National Transport and Safety Authority Act No. 33 of 2012 to, among other functions, administer the registration and licensing of motor vehicles, regulate the conduct of drivers, and enforce road safety standards across Kenya's public road network. Section 56 of the Traffic Act Cap. 403 confers power on authorised officers to require the inspection of any motor vehicle at any time, and owners or operators of vehicles are obliged to present their vehicles for inspection at NTSA-gazetted Inspection Test Centres (ITCs) located in major towns including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Nyeri.
Vehicle roadworthiness inspection in Kenya verifies compliance with the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act Cap. 405, which requires all vehicles on public roads to carry valid third-party insurance. An inspection certificate issued by NTSA after a successful roadworthiness check is a prerequisite for the renewal of a motor vehicle licence (commonly called the road licence) under Section 7 of the Traffic Act Cap. 403. The Road Transport Department within NTSA coordinates inspection scheduling through the NTSA online portal (ntsa.go.ke) and the eCitizen platform operated by the Government of Kenya.
A Vehicle Inspection Request may be initiated by the registered owner of the vehicle, a licensed insurance company or its agent, the Kenya Police Service under Chapter 84 of the Laws of Kenya, the National Police Service Commission, a vehicle financier such as a bank or SACCO holding a logbook under a chattel mortgage or hire purchase agreement, or a prospective buyer seeking independent verification of roadworthiness before purchase. The request form captures the vehicle registration number, chassis number, engine number, make, model, year of manufacture, and current mileage — all of which must match the details recorded in the NTSA Motor Vehicle Register maintained under Section 4 of the NTSA Act No. 33 of 2012.
The inspection process at an NTSA ITC covers brake efficiency, steering mechanism, lighting and signalling equipment, tyres and wheels, suspension systems, exhaust emissions levels under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act No. 8 of 1999 administered by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), bodywork integrity, and safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and first-aid kits required for PSVs under the Public Service Vehicles (Licensing and Regulation) Rules. The inspection report is recorded in the NTSA database and an Inspection Certificate of Roadworthiness (Form NTSA-4) is issued electronically where the vehicle passes all checks.
For public service vehicles — including matatus, buses, and school buses — the National Transport and Safety Authority Act No. 33 of 2012 (Section 8(h)) requires compliance with the Michuki Rules, the NTSA Public Service Vehicle Regulations, and the Inspection and Maintenance Programme (IMP) approved by the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport under Section 118 of the Traffic Act Cap. 403. Vehicles that fail inspection are issued with a prohibition notice and may not be operated on public roads until defects are rectified and a re-inspection confirms compliance.
When Do You Need a NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request (Kenya)?
An NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request in Kenya is required in several legally mandated and practically necessary situations under the Traffic Act Cap. 403 and the National Transport and Safety Authority Act No. 33 of 2012.
A Vehicle Inspection Request is needed when renewing a motor vehicle licence (road licence) under Section 7 of the Traffic Act Cap. 403. NTSA requires a valid Inspection Certificate of Roadworthiness before processing road licence renewals, and the eCitizen platform will prompt uploading of inspection documentation during the renewal workflow.
A Vehicle Inspection Request is required when a vehicle has been involved in a road traffic accident reportable under Section 72 of the Traffic Act Cap. 403 and has sustained structural or mechanical damage. The Traffic Act requires that a vehicle that has been in a serious accident must pass a post-accident inspection at an NTSA ITC before being returned to road use.
A Vehicle Inspection Request is needed before completing a motor vehicle transfer under Section 15 of the Traffic Act Cap. 403. While not always enforced, prudent buyers of used vehicles commission an independent inspection to verify roadworthiness, identify hidden defects, and confirm the vehicle's mileage and mechanical condition before paying the purchase price.
A Vehicle Inspection Request is required for all public service vehicles (PSVs) — including matatus, buses, taxis operating under digital hailing apps, and school buses — before NTSA issues or renews a PSV Licence under the Public Service Vehicles (Licensing and Regulation) Rules made under the Traffic Act Cap. 403. The PSV Licence and the Certificate of Roadworthiness must both be displayed inside the vehicle at all times.
A Vehicle Inspection Request is needed when importing a second-hand vehicle into Kenya. The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) pre-shipment inspection and the NTSA post-importation inspection under the Customs and Excise Act (Cap. 472) and the Standards Act Cap. 496 are distinct requirements, and newly imported vehicles must pass NTSA inspection before registration in the NTSA Motor Vehicle Register.
A Vehicle Inspection Request is needed when a vehicle's insurance company requires documented roadworthiness as a condition of issuing or renewing a motor vehicle insurance policy under the Insurance Act (Cap. 487) as regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA).
What to Include in Your NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request (Kenya)
A complete and effective NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request in Kenya under the Traffic Act Cap. 403 must include the following essential elements.
Applicant Details: The full legal name, national identity card number or passport number, and contact details (telephone number and physical address) of the registered owner or authorised agent making the request. Where the applicant is a body corporate — such as a company registered under the Companies Act No. 17 of 2015 or a SACCO registered under the Co-operative Societies Act Cap. 490 — the company registration number issued by the Business Registration Service (BRS) and the name of the authorised signatory must be provided.
Vehicle Identification: The vehicle registration number (number plate), chassis number (VIN), engine number, make, model, year of manufacture, and colour of the vehicle. These details must match the vehicle logbook (Registration Certificate) issued by NTSA and the details in the NTSA Motor Vehicle Register. Discrepancies between the logbook details and the physical vehicle are a common cause of inspection failure and may trigger investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) under the National Police Service Act No. 11 of 2011.
Type of Vehicle: Identification of whether the vehicle is a private motor car, commercial vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, public service vehicle (PSV), school bus, or special purpose vehicle. The applicable inspection checklist and regulatory standards differ by vehicle category under the Traffic Act Cap. 403 and the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act Cap. 405.
Grounds for Inspection: A brief statement of the reason for the inspection request — for example, road licence renewal, post-accident re-inspection, pre-transfer inspection, PSV licence application, or post-importation inspection. The stated ground determines the scope of the NTSA inspection and the applicable fee schedule under the NTSA (Fees and Charges) Regulations.
Preferred Inspection Test Centre (ITC): The NTSA ITC location at which the owner requests inspection — for example, the Nairobi ITC, the Mombasa ITC, or the Kisumu ITC. The NTSA schedules inspections through its online portal and eCitizen, and the owner must confirm the scheduled date and time of inspection.
Current Insurance Details: The name of the insurer, policy number, and policy expiry date of the third-party insurance or thorough insurance policy covering the vehicle under the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act Cap. 405. The Traffic Act Cap. 403 makes it an offence to operate a motor vehicle on a public road without valid third-party insurance, and the NTSA inspection officer will verify insurance currency before issuing the Certificate of Roadworthiness.
Owner's Declaration: A signed declaration by the registered owner or authorised agent confirming that all particulars provided are true and accurate, and authorising NTSA officers to conduct a full inspection of the vehicle, including examination of all mechanical systems, bodywork, and documentation.
Forms-legal.com provides this Kenya NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request template as a practical starting point for vehicle owners and fleet operators. Vehicle owners with disputes regarding inspection outcomes or NTSA administrative decisions may seek review under the Fair Administrative Action Act No. 4 of 2015 before the High Court of Kenya, or lodge a complaint with the Transport Licensing Board established under the Traffic Act Cap. 403.
Additional compliance elements for a NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request (Kenya) used in Kenya include: Under Kenyan law, the Constitution of Kenya 2010 is the supreme law. The Law of Contract Act (Cap. 23) governs contractual obligations. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) administers tax under the Income Tax Act (Cap. 470). The High Court of Kenya, established under Article 165 of the Constitution, has unlimited original jurisdiction. The Data Protection Act No. 24 of 2019 and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) govern personal data. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Kenya-compliant documentation.
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Forms Legal. (2026). NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request (Kenya) (Kenya) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/kenya/government/declarations/ntsa-vehicle-inspection-request-kenya
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}Frequently Asked Questions
Under the Traffic Act Cap. 403 and the National Transport and Safety Authority Act No. 33 of 2012, all motor vehicles registered in Kenya and operated on public roads are subject to NTSA roadworthiness inspection. This includes private motor cars, motorcycles (bodabodas), commercial vehicles, trailers, public service vehicles (matatus, buses, taxis), and special purpose vehicles such as ambulances and school buses. Public service vehicles face the most stringent inspection requirements under the PSV Regulations made under the Traffic Act Cap. 403, and must undergo annual inspections — sometimes more frequently — as a condition of maintaining a valid PSV Licence. Imported second-hand vehicles must also pass NTSA post-importation inspection before receiving Kenyan registration plates and being entered in the NTSA Motor Vehicle Register. Vehicles that are exempt from routine road licensing — such as certain government vehicles and vehicles used exclusively off-road — may still be subject to inspection if operated on a public road under Section 56 of the Traffic Act Cap. 403.
An NTSA roadworthiness inspection at an Inspection Test Centre (ITC) in Kenya covers a detailed range of mechanical, structural, and safety checks mandated under the Traffic Act Cap. 403 and the NTSA Inspection and Maintenance Programme (IMP). The inspection verifies: brake efficiency and handbrake effectiveness; steering mechanism integrity and wheel alignment; condition of tyres, including tread depth and absence of cuts or bulges; suspension system condition; exterior lighting — headlights, taillights, indicators, hazard lights, and reverse lights; windscreen condition and wiper functionality; exhaust emission levels measured against the standards set by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act No. 8 of 1999; seatbelts in all passenger positions; bodywork structural integrity, including the absence of sharp protrusions that could injure passengers or pedestrians; fire extinguisher and first-aid kit in PSVs as required by PSV Regulations; and instrument cluster functionality, including speedometer operation. The ITC uses standardised test equipment calibrated in accordance with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) specifications. Failures are recorded by category, and the vehicle owner receives a report specifying each defect and the timeframe for rectification.
Where a motor vehicle fails the NTSA roadworthiness inspection in Kenya, the authorised inspection officer issues a Vehicle Prohibition Notice under Section 56 of the Traffic Act Cap. 403. The Prohibition Notice prohibits the vehicle from being operated on any public road until the identified defects are rectified and the vehicle passes a re-inspection at an NTSA ITC. The owner has a specified period — typically 14 to 30 days depending on the severity of the defects — to repair the vehicle and return it for re-inspection. Operating a vehicle in breach of a Prohibition Notice is a criminal offence under the Traffic Act Cap. 403, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and seizure of the vehicle by the Kenya Police Service or NTSA enforcement officers. For public service vehicles, a failed inspection will result in suspension of the PSV Licence, and the vehicle may not carry passengers until the Certificate of Roadworthiness is restored. Vehicle owners who dispute the outcome of an inspection — for example, where they believe the inspection equipment was faulty or the officer made an error — may apply for a re-inspection or invoke the administrative review process under the Fair Administrative Action Act No. 4 of 2015.
Vehicle inspections in Kenya are scheduled through the NTSA online portal at ntsa.go.ke or the eCitizen platform operated by the Government of Kenya. The owner logs in using their national identity card number or passport number, selects the vehicle from their registered vehicles, chooses an Inspection Test Centre (ITC) and an available appointment date and time, and pays the applicable inspection fee using M-Pesa, bank transfer, or other payment methods accepted on the eCitizen platform. NTSA currently operates Inspection Test Centres in Nairobi (Embakasi), Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, and several other major towns, with the network being expanded under the NTSA Strategic Plan 2020–2025. On the day of inspection, the vehicle owner must present the original vehicle logbook (Registration Certificate), current insurance certificate, and a copy of the NTSA inspection booking confirmation. Walk-in inspections without prior booking may be accommodated at some ITCs subject to capacity, but NTSA recommends advance booking to avoid delays. The NTSA Integrated Transport Management System (TIMS) links the inspection outcome to the vehicle's record and automatically flags overdue inspections during road licence renewal processing.
Yes, the registered owner of a motor vehicle in Kenya may authorise an agent to submit an NTSA Vehicle Inspection Request and present the vehicle for inspection on their behalf. The agent must carry a written power of attorney or letter of authorisation signed by the registered owner, together with a copy of the owner's national identity card or passport. Fleet management companies, car dealers, insurance agents, and vehicle financiers commonly act as authorised agents for vehicle inspection purposes. Where the vehicle is registered in the name of a company or other legal entity, the authorised representative must produce a board resolution or letter of authority signed by a director and sealed with the company's common seal, together with the company's Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Business Registration Service (BRS). NTSA may refuse to process an inspection request where the agent cannot produce adequate authorisation, or where the vehicle's registration details are subject to a court order, caveat, or dispute registered in the NTSA Motor Vehicle Register. Any fraudulent misrepresentation of authority in connection with an NTSA application is an offence under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No. 3 of 2003.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
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